This small shrub is uncommon in Ky. but widespread from southeastern states to Central America, usually in thin woods and brushy transitions on relatively damp acid soils. Although herbarium specimens are often confused with stragalum, and some recent authors continue to combine these two species (K, Y), hypericoides is distinct in its taller habit and more variable leaf sizes. Based on W, hypericoides can be distinguished as follows: erect shrub to 1 m tall or more (versus rarely over 0.3 m), usually with a single stem, freely branched well above ground level (versus decumbent, matted, with several prostrate stems arising from a primary rootstock near ground level, each with numerous erect branchlets); leaves usually variable in size and shape, widest near the middle (versus relatively uniform, widest above middle). W noted that burned or otherwise injured plants of hypericoides can develop multiple branches from the ground but these are still erect rather than decumbent.